Newsroom Spaces and Cultural Identity in Metropolitan Newsrooms

• In Event: A New Chapter in the Life of Local Journalism: Changing Conceptions of Journalists and Journalism in Local News

Abstract

Across the United States, newspaper organizations are moving out of old historic headquarters into new buildings. The new spaces are often smaller, and make little reference to the once historic strength of the newspaper. This paper discusses four examples of this process, in Miami, Seattle, Des Moines and Fort Worth. In each case, the newspaper moved away from its old home, leaving behind old memories. However, the move also came with a renewed chance to innovate. A smaller footprint may mean a diminished staff, but it also signals an opportunity for digital experimentation. This is especially the case, I find, with breaking news on the Web. Through a discussion of news hubs that have been architecturally restructured with the hope of cultural change, the paper underscores how a change in time-space orientation can fundamentally alter conceptions of news production.

Author

• Nikki Usher, George Washington University